Hiring a car from the south

[Trigger]

Morning. Hope we all well. Ramadan Kareem.

For my upcoming trip to Cyprus I am wanting to hire a car from the south and bring it to the north, with a couple of visits back to the south throughout my trip to visit friends. Previously, I have used Petsas who arranged the insurance and allowed us to take the car to the north. It usually costs more than other car hire companies, but I didn’t mind paying the premium for peace of mind.

However, I have heard through a kibkom member this is no longer the case, petsas no longer arrange the insurance and you have to do it yourself when you get to the border. Is this easy to do? Do you do it before you cross the border or just after? How much does it cost?

Also, rather than paying the petsas premium, could I just use a cheaper car hire company from the south or is the rule of not taking the car to the north still in play from all car hire companies?

TIA

[Geoff1131]

A friend of mine hired a car in the South and came over to the North on Wednesday. He just checked with the car hire company that they would allow him to take the car North and he got insurance at the SBA crossing at Pile. So as long as the hire company is ok with you crossing the border you can use whichever company you choose.

[Deniz1]

Try Sixt my neighbour uses them every time.

[Panchocat]

Hertz also allow cross border car use.

[Trigger]

Thanks for the replies. Scores on the doors for two weeks car hire are;

Petsas - €476
Hertz- €460
Sixt - €396

Quite pricey for two weeks considering I’d have to get additional insurance.

[benjaminbutton]

Wouldn't it pay to get a taxi to the border and hire car this side. Maybe you've already done the maths and it isn't viable?

[Trigger]

Wouldn't it pay to get a taxi to the border and hire car this side. Maybe you've already done the maths and it isn't viable?

Just had a message from the company that I go through for car hire in the north… fully booked up until the end of June. Sounds like business is booming over there.

[TAC]

we used ozy taxi for airport and car hire last time we came over cheaper then most of them here

[benjaminbutton]

Family came from UK a couple of weeks ago and got a good deal from Hertz at the airport. Actually when they got to the car a Ford Fiesta, they found that Hertz had sub-booked from a local company. Trying hard to remember the company though. Think it was based in Kyrenia.

[Saddique]

At Larnaca , there is a desk called Firefly car rentals immediately in front of arrivals gate.
They allow cars to be driven to the North but they only consent to it at your own risk. The insurance they provide does not cover accidents , damage or recovery from the North.

The insurance you pay at the TRNC Border is so you are covered to drive in the North at Third party cover and for 1 month it costs €35 payable at the border.

Try searching online using :
www.economycarrentals.com
holiday autos
https://www.rentalcars.com/en/airport/cy/lca/

READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS / email company to ask if they allow their cars to be driven to the north ( it will be at your own risk )

Good luck

[Saddique]

Hertz also allow cross border car use.

Hertz in Larnaca do not allow Cross border travel especially to the North according to their website rules.

Your friend must be unaware of the rules or does not disclose his travel arrangements.

Hertz vehicles are not allowed to leave the island by boat or otherwise and cannot be driven into the Turkish occupied area.

Should these restrictions be ignored all insurance (Third Party Liability, CDW, TP, PAI, Super CDW), if accepted, shall be deemed, null and void. The driver will be held fully responsible in case of damage to, or loss of the vehicle and will bear all consequences, including the cost of repatriation of the damaged vehicle

So in reality although the rules from Hertz do not allow entry of their cars to TRNC , i am sure people do it.

[Trigger]

Thanks for the information Saddique. We had noticed on the Hertz website about not being covered in the north. Looks like at best, with some of the others it is 3rd party cover at best. Not ideal.

Problem is though, is lack of alternatives. Our usual car hire place in the north (Cyprus Pine) is fully booked and another company (Baspinar) never even got back to us at all. We have even heard of people struggling to be able to book transfers.

Does anyone have any decent car hire recommendations for the north?

[Trigger]

Anyone used Pacific before? They now seem to do insurance for the south whilst also doing a transfer service from Larnaca.

[benjaminbutton]

Sorry if I confused anyone, I was referring to Hertz in the North. I was just wondering if it would have been cheaper to taxi up from the South and then get a Hertz North side.

[Trigger]

Sorry if I confused anyone, I was referring to Hertz in the North. I was just wondering if it would have been cheaper to taxi up from the South and then get a Hertz North side.

I never realised there was a Hertz in the north. Does it go by another name? I cannot see it on Google.

[benjaminbutton]

I'll check with family. I'm sure they thought they were picking up a Hertz car from Ercan, but were directed to another booth who couldn't find the keys at first. I'll double check as I might be confused. They were nearly 12 hours late because of snow storms in Turkey and everything was in such a muddle at the end.

[Saddique]

Sorry if I confused anyone, I was referring to Hertz in the North. I was just wondering if it would have been cheaper to taxi up from the South and then get a Hertz North side.

I never realised there was a Hertz in the north. Does it go by another name? I cannot see it on Google.

Correct ... Hertz does not operate in the North.

[mish]

Trigger, I was the member - regular Petsas customer - to whom you refer. I have just had one of their cars for a month at 17 euro a day for a corolla. Like most flights we got in late so stayed with Cypriot friends in the south to allow crossing at ay NIC mid morning next day during their usual opening hours. Subsequently crossing six times on our various travels. All OK, but occasional long queues though, incl Pyla too.
M

[Trigger]

Trigger, I was the member - regular Petsas customer - to whom you refer. I have just had one of their cars for a month at 17 euro a day for a corolla. Like most flights we got in late so stayed with Cypriot friends in the south to allow crossing at ay NIC mid morning next day during their usual opening hours. Subsequently crossing six times on our various travels. All OK, but occasional long queues though, incl Pyla too.
M

We’ve ended up using Firefly that Saddique recommended. It was around €100 cheaper than Petsas. Glad to here that you managed to cross the border freely enough as we encountered an issue on our last visit.

https://kibkomnorthcyprusforum.com/vie ... la#p278902